Organizing for America | Maxim Thorne's Blog: The GBLT and AFL-CIO debates, Hillary dismays, Barack inspires

The GBLT and AFL-CIO debates, Hillary dismays, Barack inspires

By Maxim - Aug 10th, 2007 at 2:07 am EDT

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Tags: AFL-CIO, LGBT

My friend who is afraid to be named said to me "Once again, Hillary Clinton, shows herself to the the lobbyist favored, Bush-Cheney lite candidate of the democratic candidates". Hmmm. It is true her shocking statement this week at the AFL-CIO debate is exactly the opposite of what most of us want: a free, open and transparent America: "You can think big, but remember, you shouldn't always say everything you think if you're running for President, because it has consequences across the world," Gosh, George Orwell, here's new material.

Tonight, well, at the HRC/LOGO Presidential Candidates debates we got a taste of what she thinks: and it appears that she's a person who will throw us under bus (another friend's take), under the guise that she was avoiding throwing us under the train.

I doubt that there is a Lgbt person in America who shares her belief that the problem with her husband's "Don't ask, don't tell policy" (DADT) is that it was "applied poorly." Really? Hillary refuses to admit, must less apologize for any mistakes (sounds familiar?) but without her husband's charm, it's hard to pull it off.

The problem with DADT IS that the policy is blatantly discriminatory against a class of Americans, who should be among our most admired: Lgbt men and women who would give their lives for this country. It also undercuts our military preparedness and strength and wastes our financial investment in hundreds of our military servicemen and women who are expelled from the military simply because they told someone they are gay or lesbian.

DADT is a disgrace that came out of a Clinton democratic presidency AND a democratic house and senate. Hillary's answer affirms the view that she is not ready to put partisan politics behind, much less move us in the direction of hopeful, transforming politics.

And her point tonight that the Lgbt community was better off with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which then-Congressman Bill Richardson voted for and her her husband President Clinton signed into law was simply ludicrous. "Throw me under the bus why don't you" said my friend sitting next to me while we watched the HRC/LOGO debate. No remorse at all: Her argument - times were tough back then in her husband's administration. To prevent the possibility of a Constitutional Amendment against gay marriage it was better to pass an affirmative discriminatory statute against same-sex marriage.

As a man of color this is appalling logic. I hope our civil rights tradition should teach us a few good things: one is that we would never accept the proposition that it is better to criminalize inter-racial marriage and throw the offending couple in jail, because we were afraid that the citizens might lynch them. Wouldn't a law against lynching be the answer? Do lgbt people deserve the reverse? Hillary seems to think so.

As far as I am aware, in her entire time on the Arms Services Committee in the Senate, Hillary has not introduced one piece of legislation to protect Lgbt personnel in the military. What would persuade us to think that as President we could possibly expect an Executive Order/moral suasion for legislation in the mold of Eisenhower, (integrated the armed services) or Lyndon Johnson (civil rights act), or any form of a leap forward in protecting and extending the freedoms that make America, AMERICA?

Who inspired me of the leading candidates: Barack Obama. Sincere, yes. Does he "get" me? Yes. Is he willing to take bold new steps to reunite America and offer us something new? Yes. When Barack spoke about equality under the law I believed him. His constitutional law and civil rights background, and the fact that he is a product of an inter-racial marriage (as I am) helps him understand these issues. He won't sacrifice the wonderful American history of the expansion of liberties and civil right. That I believe and FEEL.

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